Mixing machine



meenam?. FJBULLOCK ETAL momgo.

MIXING MACHINE Filed May l5, 1936v 2 Sheets-Sheet l ummm Dec. 7, 1937. F. J. BULLOCK ET AL MIXING MACHINE Filed May l5, 1956 LIL Amun.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS ,L 'E4 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 7, 1937 STATS PATENT FFIQE.

MIXING MACHINE York Application May 15, 1936, Serial No. 79,948

15 Claims.

The present invention embodies a machine designed particularly for use in the mixing of feed for cattle, although it may be used for mixing ground or powdered materials of different kinds for use for different purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this class which will occupy comparatively little space, which can be employed to rapidly and eiciently handle and mix diiferent materials, and which can be conveniently operated and manufactured at a relatively low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine of this type improv-ed means to facilitate the mixing of different quantities of material at diiferent times whereby either large or small quantities may be effectively handled and mixed in a single machine when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with the mixing apparatus, improved means for delivering the material thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved supporting and agitating means for a container for receiving the mixed material discharging from the machine which will facilitate compacting of the material within the container whereby to increase the quantity which may be delivered thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of material elevating and mixing parts which will readily accommodate themselves one to another to insure proper coordination and ehicient operation of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for opening, closing and locking a door or cover for an outlet for a material holding compartment of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements in the construction and arrangement of different parts of the machine to insure efficient and economical operation of the same.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. i is a sectional elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine with the supporting frame and upper end of the casing omitted;

Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation, the section being taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing a door controlling toggle mechanism in normal operating position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the toggle mechanism moved to door opening position;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the upper mixing tube and the supporting means therefor, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the means for operating the adjustable section of the upper tube.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring to the drawings, I comprises a casing forming a chamber la for the material to be mixed, the lower portion of the casing being preferably made frusto-conical in shape. The casing is supported by an outer frame Work including a plurality of upstanding angle bars 2 superimposed upon a base or floor plate 2a..

The frusto-conical portion of the casing has a depending supply pipe or tube 3 closed at its lower end by a suitable cover or base plate 4.

Axially alined with the supply pipe 3 but spaced therefrom is an upper pipe or tube comprising the xed and adjustable sections 5 and 5a carried by a suitable supporting member t, preferably of the construction shown in Fig. 5, which comprises two fiat metal bars or strips suitably connected one with another and each being bent to produce a semi-circular portion 5a midway between its ends, the ends. being bent at right angles to the strips and suitably connected with the side walls of the receptacle l. On placing the two strips face to face a ring 6b is formed by the outwardly curved portions 6a., the ring being of a diameter slightly larger than that of the upper end of the pipe 5 to provide for a swinging or lateral movement of the pipe within the support. At diametrically opposite points in said ring, bolts l are extended therethrough and through the wall of the pipe 5 to form pivots whereby to allow for a slight movement of the pipe so that should it be subjected to any undue pressure, either from the inside or outside tendn ing to move it in one direction or another it will shift siightly to accommodate itself to the elevating screw 3 9 shown in Fig. 1. To this end the holes in the upper pipe 5 through which the pivot bolts 1 extend are made larger than the diameter of the bolts. Furthermore the pipe is thus permitted to hang in a true vertical position under all conditions of operation.

The elevating screw comprising the shaft 8 and helical strip 9, extends vertically through the pipes 3 and 5, 5a. The shaft has its upper end extended through an opening in the bottom of a box or housing I9 supported by the upper end wall I I of the mixing chamber Ia, or by any other suitable means. The shaft has at its upper extremity a bevel gear I2 meshing with a pinion I3 carried by a horizontal shaft I4 journaled at one end in a bearing in the housing I and at the other end in a hanger or bearing I carried by the side wall of the casing I. The shaft I4 is provided at the exterior of the mixing chamber with a pulley I6 by which to impart rotary motion to the shaft and the gearing driven thereby to effect rotation of the screw 8 9. By mounting the upper pipe 5, 5a for a pivotal or lateral movement upon the support 6 the elevator or screw propeller 8 9 will be maintained in proper relation with respect to the pipe, should it tend to shift in one direction or another by reason of the pressure produced thereon by the material Within the chamber Ia, or should the shaft of the propeller become sprung in operation. The employment of braces to position or hold in place the pipes 5, 5a is thus rendered unnecessary and there is hence no danger of strings or strands of fibrous material, which are sometimes carried up with the ingredients to be mixed being caught and held on such braces where they might accumulate to an extent suflcient to preventproper movement of the material or to impede or interfere with the rotation of the elevator.

For the purpose of varying the position of the inner pipe section 5a relatively to the outer section 5 in case it is desired to mix different quantities of material from time to time, there is shown in Fig. 1 a rack Il' mounted on the exterior of the section 5a and meshing with which is a pinion I8 carried by a shaft I9 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings, not shown. The shaft I9 also carries a ratchet wheel 35 to be engaged by a pawl 35 to hold the pinion i8 and the shaft against reverse rotation when the movable pipe section 5a. has been adjusted to the desired elevation. The ratchet wheel and pawl are located on the outside of the wall of the mixing chamber where the pawl may be easily reached for disengagement with the ratchet wheel when it is desired to effect rotation of the shaft I9V to reverse the movement of the pipe section 5a. To enable the shaft to be rotated manually it is provided with a hand crank ISa, as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to provide a runway for the passage of the rack I'I when the pipe section 5a is raised or lowered the outer section 5 has formed thereon a channel-shaped portion 6c affording a guideway for the rack. To guard against the discharge of any of the material within the pipe section 5 downwardly through the channel 6c into contact with the rack and pinion, the lower pipe section 5a is provided with a guard 31 which extends within the channel. The guard is formed with a beveled edge as indicated in Fig. 1 and is adapted to closely fit Within the runway and will serve as a scraper to completely remove from the runway any material remaining therein.

The adjustability of the inner pipe section 5a makes it possible to eifectively mix either large or small quantities of material in a relatively large machine of the present type since the inner section may readily be raised or lowered to the extent required Yfor the feeding of such different quantities.

As shown in Fig. 1 the upper end of the spiral elevator blade 9 is bent over to stiften the same and to afford a proper bearing surface for the wing or spreader 38 which may be riveted, bolted,

or Welded to said bearing surface. The spreader may be curved longitudinally as desired, and constructed of any suitable material, it being understood that the spreader will throw the material discharging from the pipe 5 outwardly within the upper end of the casing for downward discharge within the mixing chamber to the bottom thereof.

The mixing chamber is provided near the lower end of its conical cr hopper-like portion with an outlet opening 20 from which extends a spout 2M for discharging the mixed material from said chamber. A gate or valve 2I is provided for opening and closing the outlet when it is desired to ll diierent containers or receptacles, such, for example, as bags, with the material after the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed. For the purpose of conveniently positioning and supporting the bag or other receptacle beneath the discharge spout 20a there is provided a support or shelf 22 having upstanding arms 22a pivotally connected with the links 23 and adapted to occupy a substantially horizontal position or to be swung upwardly and inwardly against the pipe 3 to a substantially vertical position when not in use. The vertical links or bars 23 are disposed on opposite sides of the pipe 3, the links being pivotally connected at their upper and lower ends by the semi-circular supports 24 and 25. The supports are pivotally mounted on the upper and lower brackets 26 and 26a., respectively, as shown in Fig. 2. Vertical rods 21 are provided for raising the shelf when moved to a predetermined lowered position by the weight of the load thereon, the rods being actuated by eccentrics 28 fixed on a horizontal shaft 29 below the pipe 23 and supported by suitable straps or bearings 3i?. Keyed or otherwise secured upon the shaft 29 is a bevel pinion 3l meshing with a similar pinion 32, carried by the lower end of the elevator shaft 8. The shaft 29 is mounted in suitable bearings, or straps, and is rotated through rotation of the pinions 3l, 32 during rotation of the elevator shaft 8. The lower extremities of the vertical bars or links 23 are bent outwardly at 23a to extend over and be acted upon by the vertical rods 2'I when the shelf 22 is in the predetermined lowered position referred to above.

Between the outwardly bent ends 23a and the floor 3a are provided a pair of helical springs 33 encircling the upper ends of the rods 21 and projecting somewhat above said rods when the shelf 22 is in the normal elevated position shown in Fig. 2. The springs serve to normally hold the lugs 23a of the links above the ends of the rods when at their highest position. However, when the bag carried by the shelf is being filled by the material discharging from the spout 23a the shelf will gradually descend to a point at which the lugs 23a will be in position to be engaged and elevated by the rods upon reciprocation of the same by the eccentrics. This alternate raising and lowering of the shelf serves to agitate the same, thus causing the mixed material in the bag or container to settle and become compacted whereby to increasev the amount oi material delivered to each bag.

Instead -of employing straps encircling the eccentrica as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower extremities of the rods 27 may bear directly upon the peripheral portions of said eccentrics or cams and produce a rise and fall of the rods, suitable guides being provided for the rods in this case.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the shaft 8 of the Velevating screw is shouldered at its lower end and ythe shoulder has a bearing on the plate 4 for closing the tube or pipe 3. 'Ihis arrangement tends to maintain the shaft 8 in true vertical position but since the shaft is supported at its upper end by the pinions i2 and I3, a slight space or clearance may be left below the shoulder at the bottom of the shaft to permit of a limited lateral movement of the shaft in order that the propeller may accommodate itself to the lower tube 3.

Fig. 1 sh-ows the shelf 22 in its lowered or horizontal position where it is adapted to receive a bag or container to be lled, but when the shelf is swung upwardly to lie against the pipe 3 the outermost edge of the shelf will engage a spring clip 39 carried by the pipe 3 which will serve to hold the shelf against accidental displacement. To prevent descent of the shelf below a substantially horizontal position the shoulders 22h of the shelf arms 22a will engage the lugs 23a of the links 23 as shown in Fig. 2.

The ingredients of the material to be mixed are delivered to a hopper or receptacle 4D through an opening 40a in the floor plates 2a and 3a, Fig. 1. The hopper is disposed beneath the floor 3a and is suitably connected with the lower end of the supply pipe 3 which has an inlet 4Gb through which the material to be mixed is discharged from the hopper by a suitable propelling mechanism therein which, in the present disclosure, comprises a shaft 4i journaled in the end walls of the hopper and provided with a pair of helical screws 42 of opposite pitch which serve to feed the material from the ends of the hopper to a point opposite the opening 4%. The shaft is also provided with a radial blade 42a between the screws for positively forcing the material through the opening 40h into the lower end of the feed pipe 3. The propeller shaft 4I is preferably driven by the shaft 2S through a suitable connection such, for exampie, as the sprocket chain lia engaging sprockets on the shafts 29 and 4l, as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 29 may be supported by any suitable means such, for example, as the straps 42h depending from the cover plate 4 on the lower end of the pipe 3, Fig. 3.

In order to afford access to the lower end of the pipe 3 an opening is provided therein which is normally closed by a door 43 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The door is supported for a swinging movement by a pair of hinges 44 suitably connected with the pipe 3. As shown in Fig. 4 a portion 45 of the hinge 44 is bent upwardly and forwardly of the axis of the hinge to form a brace for the door to prevent it from swinging outwardly under pressure of the material within the pipe. Means is provided for moving the door to open and closed positions and for locking it when in closed position which preferably comprises a toggle mechanism including a vertical rod or shaft 46 journaled in suitable bearings and extending upwardly through the iioor and provided with an operating lever or handle 41. Below the iloor and in line with the brace 45 the rod is provided with a laterally projecting arm 48 having a pivot member 49 connecting it with a link pivoted to an arm 5l secured to the door brace 45 as shown in Fig. 4. By moving the lever 4l in a circular path the arm 48 is caused to swing away from the supply pipe 3, thus breaking the toggle formed by the arm 43 and link 53 and moving the parts to open the door as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. On returning the parts to' the full line position shown in Fig.

4, the toggle is straightened and the door becomes locked in closed position. It is desirable that the rod 46 be designed for operation both from above and below the floor and for this purpose it is provided below the floor with an operating arm or lever 52, as shown in Fig. 2. The lever 41 above the floor is so positioned that when it is swung inwardly to open the door it will lie close to the side of the shelf 22 and will thus serve to indicate to the workman on the floor that the door is open and should be closed before starting operation of the machine.

In the use of the machine different classes of material may be successively mixed therein, but it is important that no portion of a charge of one kind of material the mixing of which has been completed shall remain in the pipe 3 or the hopper 40 to subsequently become mixed with a different kind of material delivered to the mixing chamber. This may be avoided by reversing the direction of rotation of the vertical and horizontal propellers 9 and 42 to effect discharge of any material of one kind remaining in the machine before feeding material of another kind thereto.

What is claimed:

1. In a mixing machine, a casing having a mixing chamber provided with an outlet, means operable within said chamber to mix the material therein, operating means for said last mentioned means, a support for a container for receiving the material discharging from said outlet, said support being mounted for bodily movement downwardly from a normal inoperative position to a predetermined position under a predetermined weight of material within the container, and means actuated by said operating means for periodically raising the support and the container thereon subsequent to movement of the same to said predetermined position whereby to cause the material to become compacted within the container, said last mentioned means being inoperative with respect to said support except upon movement of the support to said lowered position.

2. In a mixing machine, a casing having a mixing chamber provided with an outlet, means operable within said chamber to mix the material therein, supporting mechanism for a container for receiving the material discharging from the outlet, said supporting mechanism including swingingly mounted parts free to move bodily in a downward direction from a normal inoperative position to a predetermined lowered position under a predetermined weight of material within the container, means for yieldingly resisting downward movement of said parts, and means for periodically raising said parts subsequent to movement of the same to said predetermined lowered position, said last mention-ed means being inoperative with respect to said swingingly mounted parts except upon movement of the latter to said lowered position.

3. In a mixing machine, a casing having a mixing chamber provided with an outlet, means within the chamber for mixing the material therein, operating means for said mixing means, a shelf for a container for receiving material discharging fro-m the outlet, supporting means for the shelf permitting it to move downwardly to a predetermined position under a predetermined weight of material within the container comprising upper and lower horizontally disposed pivoted members connected by vertically extending links, resilient means for resisting downward movement of the links, and mechanism connected vwith and actuated 'by said operating means for periodically raising the shelf and the container thereon subsequent to movement of the same to said predetermined position.

4. In a mixing machine, a casing having a mixing chamber provided with an outlet for the material, means within said chamber for mixing the material therein, operating means for said last mentioned means, a shelf for a container for receiving the material, said shelf being disposed beneath the outlet, supporting means for the shelf permitting it to move bodily and downwardly from a normal :position to a predetermined position under a predetermined weight of material within the container, means for yieldingly resisting downward movement of the shelf, and means actuated by said operating means for periodically raising the shelf subsequent to its movement to said predetermined position, said last mentioned means being normally spaced from the shelf.

5. In a mixing machine, a casing having a mixing chamber provided with an outlet, means within the chamber for mixing the material therein, upper and lower pivotally mounted members each having arms extending on opposite sides of the casing, links connecting the Lipper and lower arms of said members, a support for a container for receiving the material discharging from said outlet, said support extending laterally from the casing and including spaced side portions having parts at their inner ends seated upon the lower ends of the links, said side portions having upstanding arms pivotally connected with the links at points above said parts to permit the support to be swung between substantially horizontal and vertical positions, said support moving downwardly to a predetermined horizontal position under a predetermined weight of material within the container, and means for periodically raising the links to raise the support and container thereon subsequent to movement of the support to said predetermined position.

6. In a mixing machine, a casing having a mixing chamber provided with lower and upper inlet and outlet openings respectively, a receptacle for the material extending laterally from the casing and commiuiicating with said inlet opening, means operable within the receptacle to discharge the material therefrom to the casing through said inlet opening, means within the casing for elevating and mixing the material therein for discharge through said outlet opening, and a swingingly mounted support associated with the casing for movement between substantially vertical and horizontal positions and adapted when in horizontal position to overlie said receptacle and to Support a container for receiving the material discharging through said outlet.

7. In a mixing machine, a casing having a mixing chamber provided with an outlet for discharging the mixed material, said casing including a supply tube, means within the casing for elevating and mixing the material therein for discharge through said outlet, operating means for said elevating means, upper and lower horizontally disposed pivotal members associated with said supply tube, vertically extending links pivotally connecting said' members at opposite sides of the supply tube, means resiliently supporting the links, a support for a container carried by the links, means for discharging the material from said outlet to the container, the support being adapted to move downwardly with the links against the resistance of the resilient means under a predetermined weight ofthe material within the container, and means actuated by said operating means for periodically raising the links and the support subsequent to movement of the latter to a predetermined position under a predetermined weight of the material within the container.

8. In a mixing machine, a casing having a mixing chamber provided with lower and upper inlet and outlet openings respectively, a receptacle for the material extending laterally from the casing and communicating with said inlet opening, means operable within the receptacle to discharge the material therefrom into the casing through said inlet opening, means within the casing for elevating and mixing the material therein for discharge through said outlet opening, said receptacle having an inlet .directly below said outlet opening for receiving waste material discharging from the outlet opening, a shelf, means for supporting the shelf for movement between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position over said receptacle, and means for agitating the last mentioned means to effect agitation of the shelf.

9. In a mixing machine, a casing forming a mixing chamber and having a depending supply tube, an upper tube disposed within the mixing chamber and including two sections one mounted for movement longitudinally of the other to vary the overall length of the tube, said upper tube being spaced from the supply tube and from the walls of the mixing chamber, means for adjusting the movable section of the upper tube longitudinally of the other section, comprising a rotary element interposed between the side walls of said sections in operative relation to the movable section and having an actuating part extending transversely of the axis of said section and through the wall of the casing, elevating means within said tubes for feeding the material to be mixed upwardly into the lower end of the mixing chamber and through the upper tube for downward discharge into the mixing chamber, and

-means for delivering the material to be mixed to the supply tube.

10. In a mixing machine, a casing forming a mixing chamber and having a depending supply tube, an upper tube disposed within the mixing chamber and comprising inner and outer telescoping sections one movable longitudinally of the other to vary the overall length of the tube, the outer section having a runway formed therein and the inner section having a rack bar movable within the runway, a pinion engaging the rack bar and serving to move it within said runway to move said inner section Vwithin the outer section, means for operating the pinion from the exterior of the casing, said inner section having a guard extending within said runway above the rack bar to prevent the material from discharging downwardly through the runway, means within said tubes for feeding the material to be mixed upwardly into the lower end of the mixing chamber and through the upper tube for downward discharge into the mixing chamber, and means for delivering the material to be mixed to the lower end of the supply tube.

11. In a mixing machine, a casing forming a mixing chamber and having a depending supply tube, an upper tube disposed within the casing above the supply .tube and coaxially thereof, said upper tube being spaced from the supply tube and from the walls of the mixing chamber, an elevating screw within said tubes for feeding the material to be mixed upwardly into the lower end of the mixing chamber and through the upper tube for downward discharge into the mixing chamber, a receptacle adjacent the lower end of the supply tube having an outlet communicating with said lower end, a rotatably mounted shaft extending longitudinally within said receptacle and transversely of the axis of the supply tube, worm propellers on said shaft in the opposite ends of the receptacle for feeding the material to a point opposite the outlet, a radially disposed blade on the shaft between the propellers for discharging the material from the receptacle through the outlet into the lower end of the supply tube, a driving element for the screw on the lower end thereof, driving means for said element below said supply tube, and a driving connection between said driving means and said shaft.

12. In a mixing machine, a casing forming a mixing chamber and having a depending supply tube and an outlet for the material above the supply tube, a fioor for supporting the casing through which the lower end of the supply tube is extended, an upper tube mounted within the casing above the supply tube and coaxially thereof, the upper tube comprising telescoping sections mounted for movement one longitudinally of another, said sections being spaced from the supply tube and from the walls of the mixing chamber, an elevating screw within said tubes for feeding the material upwardly into the lower end of the mixing chamber and through the telescoping sections of the upper tube for downward discharge into the mixing chamber and through said outlet, a receptacle beneath the floor adjacent the lower end of the supply tube and communicating with the latter, the iioor having an opening through which to supply the material to be mixed to the receptacle, said opening being substantially in alinement with said outlet, means operable within the receptacle to discharge the material therefrom into the supply tube, and driving means for said last mentioned means connected with and adapted to be driven by the screw.

13. In a mixing machine, a casing forming a mixing chamber and provided with an outlet, said casing having a depending supply tube, an upper tube mounted within the casing above the supply tube, said upper tube being spaced from the supply tube and from the side walls of the mixing chamber, an elevating screw within said tubes for feeding the material into the lower end of the mixing chamber and through the upper tube for downward discharge within the mixing chamber, a support for a container for receiving the material discharged from said outlet, said support being mounted for a downward movement from normal position to a predetermined position under a predetermined weight of material within the container, means for agitating the support when at said last mentioned position, said agitating means being inoperative with respect to said support during the initial operation of discharging the mixed material to said container, a receptacle adjacent the lower end of the supply tube in communication with the latter, means operable within the receptacle to discharge the material to be mixed therefrom into the supply tube, driving means for said last mentioned means including a part connected with and driven by the lower end of said screw, means actuated by said driving means for operating said agitating means, and means for driving the screw.

14. In a mixing machine, a casing forming a mixing chamber and provided with an outlet, said casing having a depending supply tube, an upper tube mounted within the casing above the supply tube, said upper tube being spaced from the supply tube and from the side walls of the mixing chamber, an elevating screw within said tubes for feeding the material into the lower end of the mixing chamber and through the upper tube for downward discharge within the mixing chamber, a support for a container for receiving the material discharging from said outlet, said support being mounted for a downward movement from normal position to a predetermined position under a predetermined weight of material within the container, means for agitating the support when at said last mentioned position, said agitating means being inoperative with respect to said support during the initial operation of discharging the mixed material to the container, operating means for said agitating means including a part connected with and driven by the lower end of said screw, and driving means for the screw.

15. In a mixing machine, a casing including a mixing chamber and a depending supply tube, said mixing chamber having an outlet for discharging the mixed material downwardly at one side of the supply tube, means operable within said casing for elevating and mixing the material therein for discharge through said outlet, operating means for said elevating and mixing means, a supporting member beneath the outlet for a container for receiving the mixed material discharged through the outlet, a device for supporting said member at a normal predetermined position including resilient means for resisting downward movement of said member, the latter being moved to a lowered position under a predetermined weight of the material within the container, means for agitating the supporting member to agitate the container subsequent to movement of said member by the weight of the material downwardly to said lowered position, said agitating means being inoperative with respect to the supporting member previous to movement of the latter from said predetermined position to said lowered position and means connected with and actuated by said operating means for operating said agitating means.

VIOLET V. BULLOCK, Administratrix of the Estate of Fred J. Bullock,

Deceased.

WARD H. PRESTON. 

